Mexico: Veracruz journalist threatened for book on state governor; fears for safety

Mexico: Veracruz journalist threatened for book on state governor; fears for safety

August 12, 2016Mexico

PEN is seriously concerned for the safety of Noé Zavaleta, Veracruz state correspondent for the national newsweekly Proceso, who has been subject to intimidation, threats and a smear campaign in the run-up to the launch of his book on the outgoing governor of Veracruz, El infierno de Javier Duarte. Crónica de un gobierno fatídico (Javier Duarte’s hell: Chronicles of a fateful government). The threats are reported to have come via social media from a businessman named in the book, as well as anonymous messages from email accounts and websites associated to the state government. Some reportedly aim to link the journalist to a criminal group. PEN calls on the local and federal authorities to ensure Zavaleta’s safety and to investigate the threats against him as a matter of urgency. It urges the authorities to guarantee the protection of all journalists under attack in Mexico for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

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#Mexico: Provide safeguards for journalist @zavaleta_noe, threatened for his book on #Veracruz governor http://bit.ly/2bp26ZD

Please send a copy of your appeals to your nearest Mexican diplomatic representative.**Please contact the PEN office in London if you intend to send appeals after September 28, 2016***
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Publish articles and opinion pieces in your national or local press highlighting the case of Noé Zavaleta in Mexico

Solidarity
Messages of solidarity can be sent to Noé Zavaleta at @zavaleta_noe

Background Information

Noé Zavaleta (35), author and Veracruz state correspondent for the national newsweekly magazine Proceso, has been subject to intimidation, threats, and a smear campaign in early August 2016 in relation to his book on the outgoing governor of Veracruz, Javier Duarte. The threats have coincided with the run-up to the book’s launch on August 10, 2016.

Published on June 19, El infierno de Javier Duarte. Crónica de un gobierno fatídico (Javier Duarte’s hell: Chronicles of a fateful government) (Ediciones Proceso) is a damning account of Duarte’s administration. Zavalata argues that since the governor came into office in 2010, Veracruz has become synonymous with a narco-state where nepotism, corruption, violence and impunity reign.

According to Proceso, Zavaleta has been threatened and insulted on social media by the businessman and owner of the regional newspaper El Buen Tono, José Abella, for mentioning his lucrative advertising contracts with the state government in the book.

The journalist has also reported receiving anonymous threatening messages from email accounts and websites associated with the state government. Most worrying are some recent messages which try to link him to the organised crime group Los Zetas, he says.

Zavaleta says he fears for his life after receiving a tweet on August 8 that stated "you’re only saying you’re being threatened to get publicity, you f****** failed writer. Now I know where you live" ("dices que te amenazan solo para darte publicidad, pinche escritor fracasado. Ya sé dónde vives").

Proceso and its correspondents have expressed concern at these attempts to intimidate Zavaleta and undermine his journalistic work which make him vulnerable to attack. The newspaper has stated that it holds Abella and the government of Veracruz responsible should anything happen to the journalist.

Zavaleta has reported the threats to the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. He has reportedly also lodged a formal complaint against Abella for alleged coercion and threats with the State General Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Prosecutor for Electoral Crimes and for Crimes against Journalists (FGE), and is considering bringing a similar complaint before the federal Attorney General’s office (PGR).

There is a history of violent attacks on Proceso journalists and in general against reporters in Veracruz. Regina Martínez, also a correspondent for Proceso based in Veracruz, was murdered at her home on April 28, 2012. Rubén Espinosa, photojournalist for the magazine, was killed in Mexico City on July 31, 2015 after relocating from Veracruz state due to death threats.

Three print journalists have been killed in Veracruz in 2016 alone, and the state had the highest incidence of attacks on journalists in the first four months of the year, according to Article 19.

At least 14 print and internet journalists have been killed in Veracruz since 2004, according to PEN International research, more than in any other state. Eleven of these have died since 2010, when Jaime Duarte became state governor.

At least 78 print and internet journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2004, according to PEN International research, while another 11 have disappeared. Around 90 percent of these cases remain unresolved.

Write A Letter

Please send appeals calling on the state and federal authorities in Mexico to:

Provide journalist and author Noé Zavaleta with immediate protection and ensure his safety so he can carry out his work without censorship or fear;

Investigate the threats against Noé Zavaleta and bring those responsible to justice;

End the harassment of Mexican journalists for their work, and provide them and all Mexican citizens with the protection they need in order to safeguard their right to freedom of expression.

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